Illustrative image. Photo: VNA

Vietnam records 2,545 new Covid-19 cases on Sept. 23

The total number of Covid-19 cases in Vietnam rose to 11,470,164 after 2,545 new infections were reported on September 23.

Meanwhile, 1,319 patients were declared to be free from coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 on the same day, raising the total number of recoveries to 10,585,266.

The death toll from the disease was kept at 43,146, making up 0.4% of the total infections, as no fatality was recorded on the day, cited VNA.

Nearly 259.8 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered so far.

Vietnam, US increase healthcare cooperation

US Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets and Director General of the US and Foreign Commercial Service Arun Venkataraman on September 23 completed a healthcare trade mission to Vietnam to advance bilateral cooperation in health care.

The delegation led by Assistant Secretary Venkataraman included 10 companies in healthcare, digital technologies and related products and services sectors. Participating companies had opportunities to explore business connections and establish relationships with public and private sector leaders in Vietnam.

Photo: VOV

In Hanoi, Venkataraman met with Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai, Assistant Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang and Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Phan Tam. He also held engagements with the Party Central Committee’s Central Economic Commission, the Ministry of Health, the American Chamber of Commerce in Hanoi and the US-ASEAN Business Council.

The Vietnam visit is part of Venkataraman’s week-long US healthcare trade mission to Southeast Asia. Prior to Vietnam, he visited Thailand and Malaysia, and Singapore, according to VOV.

“We learned firsthand this week about the significant healthcare needs in Southeast Asia and the strong commitment of governments in the region to meet those needs,” said Venkataraman. “We are proud that the US healthcare solutions we brought on this mission—from medical tech, to digital products, to lifesaving pharmaceuticals—can play a critical role in helping governments improve their healthcare systems. The United States is committed to working with these three countries and others across Southeast Asia to build economies that meet the 21st century needs of our citizens.”

Networking events held to enhance Vietnam - RoK business partnerships

The Korea Trade - Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) have arranged 166 direct meetings between 25 businesses from Incheon city, the Republic of Korea (RoK), and nearly 100 Vietnamese importers over the past few days to seek partnership opportunities.

Businesses from Incheon, which accommodates many major industrial production complexes, have come to Vietnam to seek partners. They brought along a wide range of products in the fields of cosmetics, beauty care, instant food, household appliances, education, to medical tools, electronic devices, industrial equipment, and construction materials, reported VNA.

Tran Thi Hai Yen, head of KOTRA Hanoi, said the office will connect over 1,300 Korean firms with 1,000 Vietnamese partners via 80 networking events to be held both in person and online in the time ahead.

This October, KOTRA will hold an international event - Korea Brand & Entertainment Expo (KBEE) - to further promote trading activities so that bilateral trade can reach 100 billion USD this year, she noted.

The Hanoi - Incheon trade fair has connected many Vietnamese and Korean firms. Photo: VNA

Kim Yo Keun, Director of the Prime Co. Ltd - a dishwasher manufacturer, said Vietnam is a potential market with numerous development opportunities for Korean enterprises, noting that his company is exporting about 300 million KRW (212,000 USD) worth of the products to Vietnam each year.

Highly valuing the role of trade promotion, Director of the Viet - Han VIC Media JSC Pham Ngoc Ba said his firm hopes to find potential Korean partners at these networking events.

He added enterprises have encountered numerous difficulties over the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic’s impacts, and face-to-face business matching events will create conditions for them to quickly seek goods supply and trustworthy partners.

An additional 1.2 million Pfizer vaccine doses arrive in Vietnam

A shipment containing 1.2 million doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 12 and above arrived in Vietnam on September 22.

The latest shipment has raised the number of Covid-19 vaccine doses the country has received from partners over the past 10 days to 4.2 million.

More than 16.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered to children aged five to 12. Photo: SK&DS

The Ministry of Health is now co-ordinating with donors and agencies in order to receive more vaccines for various age groups moving forward, cited VOV.

As of September 22, roughly 260 million Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered nationwide.

Of the figure, 78% of the population have already had their third dose whilst nearly 79% have been given their fourth inoculation.

Five months on since implementing Covid-19 vaccinations for children aged five to 12, over 16.5 million doses have now been administered, with first-dose coverage hitting 88.5% and second-dose coverage reaching 60.8%.

Football tournament in Vientiane marks Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year

A friendship football tournament kicked off in Vientiane on September 22 to welcome the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022.

Football tournament in Vientiane marks Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year. Photo: NDO

The event is jointly held by the Vientiane Department of Education and Sports and the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos.

It attracted the participation of four teams, whose members come from the Lao Commission for External Relations of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee, the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports, the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos, Vientiane City’s authorities, the Vientiane Department of Education and Sports, and several Lao schools and colleges, NDO reported.

The four participating teams were divided into two pairs to compete in the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Director of Vientiane Department of Education and Sports Somphone Sonedala expressed his hope that the activity will contribute to promoting the great friendship and special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos, particularly in the field of education and training.

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